Systems and methods for closing a vessel wound

Abstract

Vessel wound closure systems and method for sealing a puncture wound in a target vessel, such as those puncture wounds that occur from prior interventional procedures. A sealing member is deployed intravascularly into the target vessel, and an anchor member is deployed extravascularly of the target vessel. The sealing member and the anchor member are connected by a suture that may be drawn to tighten the sealing member and the anchor member relative to one another in order to effect the seal of the puncture wound. After tightening, the suture is secured to maintain the sealing member and the anchor member relative to one another in order to maintain the seal. Preferably, the anchor member, the suture and the sealing member are comprised of biocompatible, bioresorbable materials that are absorbed into the body after the sealing of the puncture wound has been achieved. The sealing member, suture and the anchor member are delivered by a delivery rod or other components over a guidewire or through an introducer already in place from the preceding interventional procedure.

Description

BACKGROUND OF TH INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The invention generally relates to vessel wound closure techniques. More particularly, the invention relates to systems and methods for sealing puncture wounds in a blood vessel such as those that result from certain interventional procedures. [0003] 2. Related Art [0004] A large number of therapeutic and diagnostic procedures involve the percutaneous introduction of instrumentation into a blood vessel, for example, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Such procedures most often involve accessing an intended site through the femoral artery. Ideally, closing and healing of the resultant vascular puncture wound successfully completes the procedure. [0005] Traditionally, the application of external pressure to the skin at the entry site of the instrumentation into the patient has been employed to stem bleeding from the wound. A nurse or physician, for example, applies pressure to the wound site until c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021] In some embodiments the system comprises an outer sheath, a delivery rod slidably disposed within the outer sheath, a guidewire slidably associated with the delivery rod, a sealing member deployably housed within the outer sheath, and a anchor member deployably housed within the delivery rod, and a connecting suture connecting the sealing member and the anchor member, whereby the outer sheath encircles the delivery rod and constrains the sealing member, the connecting suture and the anchor member from deploying until sufficient proximal movement of the outer sheath has occurred. Upon deployment, the sealing member is positioned intravascularly about the inside surface of the target vessel, the anchor member is positioned extravascularly about the outside surface of the target vessel, and the sealing member and the anchor member are moved closer to one another by drawing and securing the connecting suture in order to seal the vessel wound. A portion of the connecting suture extends proximal of the anchor member and is accessible to a medical practitioner beyond a proximal end of the delivery rod and the outer sheath to help tighten the sealing member and the anchor member relative to one another.

[0027] The introducer may further comprise a flared end into which a hub of the outer sheath is received when disposing the outer sheath to its distal second position and into the target vessel. The handle may further comprise a removable pull-tab extending from the handle and precluding the inner sheath from movement to its distal second position until removal of the pull-tab has occurred. The distal end of the inner sheath may further comprise an angled exit port that helps orient the sealing member or anchor member to effect the sealing of the vessel wound upon deployment thereof.

Problems solved by technology

Thus patient comfort and physician efficiency are impaired where such external pressure techniques are employed.

Additionally, the risk of hematoma exists while bleeding from the vessel occurs.

Such hematoma risk continues until sufficient clotting of the wound site occurs.

Moreover, external pressure devices, such as femoral compression systems, are often unsuitable for some patients, such as those with substantial amounts of subcutaneous adipose tissue, as the skin surface may be a considerable distance away from the vasculature puncture site.

Inaccurate skin compression, and thus less effective wound healing, tends to occur as a result.

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